After a wildly successful 2020, the Buffalo Bills look to take the next step and win it all in 2021. This is the most exciting season for Buffalo in quite some time, and we are just 97 days away from seeing Josh Allen and the Bills face off against the Pittsburgh Steelers. To commemorate the occasion, we here at Last Word on Sports are counting down the greatest players in Bills history by jersey number. Today, we take a look back on Cornelius Bennett, one of the best linebackers of his time.
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97 Days to Buffalo Bills Kickoff: Cornelius Bennett
Pre-NFL Life
Cornelius Bennett’s athleticism was second-to-none, and his natural gifts shone brightly from a young age. A three-sport athlete in high school, Bennett excelled at basketball, baseball, and football. Bennett played all over the field in high school, although he excelled as a running back. During his Senior year, Bennett recorded 1,000 yards on just 101 rushes, earning All-State honors for his fantastic work.
Bennett’s dominance in high school continued to college, as he committed to Alabama and immediately earned national praise. After playing a smaller role as a freshman, Bennett emerged as a starter in his second year and immediately earned a spot on the College Football All-America Team. As if that wasn’t enough, he earned the same honor in each of the next two seasons, becoming one of two players in Alabama history to earn three selections on the All-America team.
In addition to the three All-America selections, Bennett also finished his college career as a three-time All-SEC selection and 1986’s SEC Player of the Year. The college ranks are full of phenomenal talents, but Bennett was clearly a step above the rest. Considered to be a generational prospect, the Alabama product was selected by the Indianapolis Colts with the second pick in the draft.
Fortunately for Bills fans, Bennett never played a snap with the Indianapolis Colts until late in the 90’s. In what was becoming something of a tradition in the 80’s, the Colts weren’t able to sign their first-round pick and ended up trading him away. The rest, as they say, is history.
Cornelius Bennett With the Buffalo Bills
Due to the timing of the trade, Bennett only managed to play in eight games during his first season in Buffalo. However, during that time, he proved that he was a difference-making talent. During his time on the field, the rookie recorded 8.5 sacks, 69 tackles, and five forced fumbles.
That 1987 season was a sign of things to come, as Bennett took his game to the next level during his second season in the league. Starting and appearing in all 16 games, the Alabama product finished his season with 9.5 sacks, 103 tackles, three forced fumbles, and two interceptions while earning First-Team All-Pro honors and his first Pro Bowl selection. He was no one-year wonder, as he earned Pro Bowl selections in four of the next five seasons, with the lone miss coming in a season where injuries limited him to just 12 games.
Overall, Bennett spent nine years in Buffalo, wearing 55 for the first three before transitioning to 97 in the 1990 season. Throughout his time with the Bills, the Alabama product recorded 52.5 sacks, 793 tackles, 19 forced fumbles, and six interceptions. He also played a major part in helping Buffalo get to four straight Super Bowls, even if they never quite managed to seal the deal.
Cornelius Bennett vs. New England 11/26/95 pic.twitter.com/GgfyYAzfWH
— Bills TD A Day (@BillsTouchdown) October 11, 2019
Life After Buffalo
After nine years with the Bills, Bennett signed with the Atlanta Falcons following the 1995 season. While he wasn’t the player he once was, he was still a solid starter for both Atlanta and Indianapolis. However, after the 2000 season, Bennett decided to call it a career once and for all. Throughout the course of his 14-year career, Bennett recorded 71.5 sacks, 1,190 tackles, seven interceptions, and 31 forced fumbles.
Of course, you can’t talk about Cornelius Bennett without discussing the off-field incident. In May of 1997, Bennett sexually assaulted a woman while at a hotel in Buffalo. After pleading guilty, the linebacker was sentenced to 60 days in jail and had to face three years of probation.
Since that fateful day, Bennett has managed to keep out of trouble. He currently lives in Florida and plans to donate his brain for a CTE study following his passing.
Main photo:
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